Viking Cruises

Viking Explorer Society News - Issue 23 - Spring 2024

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viking.com | 25 E X P E R I E N C E S I S S U E 2 3 THE BLACK FOREST Named for its dark and dense evergreen forest of pine trees, the Black Forest—Schwarzwald in German—stretches west of the River Rhine and south into the foothills of Switzerland's Alpine region. A vast expanse of hills, valleys, rivers and forests where, within a short walk, you can find yourself in the middle of nature. It is home to the cuckoo clock that reproduces the song of the cuckoo bird found within the Black Forest. HARDANGERVIDDA Nestled in one of Norway's most spectacular regions, Hardangerfjord is everything you imagine a dramatic fjord to be, with its emerald forests and deep blue waters. From the tiny village of Eidfjord, ascend Europe's largest mountain plateau, Hardangervidda, for sweeping views of epic landscapes. Here, in Norway's largest national park you can discover the wildlife of this pristine region, as you take in its staggering beauty. ALASKA In Alaska, America's "Last Frontier," the call of the wild carries the promise of exciting new discoveries, each as extraordinary as the next. Here, whales traverse deep waters and eagles circle snow-capped mountains. Sail into Yakutat Bay to marvel at the colossal Hubbard Glacier which stretches six miles cross and 76 miles into the sea and is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. Nicknamed the "Galloping Glacier," it is also the fastest moving. WACHAU VALLEY Painted greens, golds and every colour of nature's palette, the Wachau Valley, though not untamed, offers timeless landscapes along an especially lovely stretch of the river Danube. Described by UNESCO as "a basically medieval landscape which has evolved organically and harmoniously over time," both sides are dotted with ruined castles, medieval towns and lined with terraced vineyards. 7 8 9 10 ANTARCTICA There are few places more wild than Antarctica. Virtually unexplored just 150 years ago, a journey into Antarctica is the ultimate adventure. One of the world's most remote places, it is untamed and unimaginably beautiful. Antarctica is nature at its most dramatic and elemental. Snow, ice, water and rock are home to unique wildlife; whales, orcas, seals and penguins. It is hard to capture on camera the sensation of feeling like a very small part of a vast, magical planet, but you will see sights that do encapsulate this sense of majesty and awe. 6

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